J Emerg Med
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We describe a modified string technique for ring removal from an edematous finger, a critical step in the initial treatment of a patient with upper-extremity trauma. ⋯ This multisuture technique adds to the armamentarium of methods for ring removal in the setting of upper-extremity trauma without reverting to alternate techniques for cutting or shattering the ring.
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Persons with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are frequent utilizers of emergency medical services but are a poorly understood and medically complex population. As the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries improves, there is a growing population of patients suffering from the chronic neurological deficits and altered homeostasis resulting from those injuries. ⋯ A SCI is a devastating but increasingly survivable event. The long-term care of persons with SCIs is challenging because of the unique pathologies encountered in this population and the disruption of normal and expected physiological responses to common ailments. This review will facilitate a better understanding of the emergency care needs of this unique patient population.
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Observational Study
Early Point-of-Care Testing at Triage Reduces Care Time in Stable Adult Emergency Department Patients.
Core laboratory testing may increase length of stay and delay care. ⋯ Among stable adult patients presenting to the ED with one of the prespecified conditions, early POCT at triage, compared with traditional core laboratory testing after evaluation by an ED provider, reduced ED care time by approximately 1 h.
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An automatic simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (SST-CPR) device is an apparatus that performs CPR by providing simultaneous cyclic compressions of the thorax with a thoracic strap and compression of the sternum with a piston. ⋯ CPR with an automatic SST-CPR device results in higher estimated CPP compared to standard CPR in patients with non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.